Cattle producers should consider testing hay for quality to insure they meet nutritional requirements of cows and keep them in good condition through the winter.

By determining the hay supply’s crude protein content and total digestible nutrients, or TDN, which is the measurement of available energy in the forage, producers can verify whether supplemental feed will be necessary, says Dr. Jason Banta, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service beef cattle specialist, Overton. Knowing what type and how much supplemental feed is needed can save producers money.

“Sometimes we find hay is better than we thought, and we can save some money on supplementation,” Banta says. “At other times we find the hay wasn’t as good as we wanted, so we do need to provide our cows with some more protein and energy supplements to make sure they are in the condition we want before calving (to) optimize their pregnancy rates in the future.”

Banta says body condition scores for 4-year-old or older cows should be 5 or better at calving. Scores for 2 to 3-year olds should be 6 or better.

Nutritional needs vary for various animals in a herd, Banta says. For instance, lactating cows require more protein and TDN than dry cows.

Tested hay should show a minimum of 11 to 11.5 percent crude protein and 63 percent TDN on a dry matter basis to maintain most lactating cows, he says.

Banta recommends consulting a nutritionist to determine appropriate tests for specific hay species tested. The nutritionist can also recommend a reputable lab.

https://youtu.be/jCeNZ-oRH0U

TEST RESULTS VARY

“Labs can vary on how accurate their tests are and how quickly they can turn samples around for producers,” he said. “So selecting the right lab is important.”

Banta recommends producers test each cutting and pull samples from at least 10 percent of the bales. Bales should be picked at random whether in the field or stacked. Producers should also sample 10 percent of each load when buying hay.

He recommends using a probe that can be inserted into the hay bale to collect a good cross section of hay for sampling.

For the latest on southwest agriculture, please check out Southwest Farm Press Daily and receive the latest news right to your inbox.

The cost of testing hay can range from $25 to $60 per sample, but Banta says it’s an investment that will help producers optimize their cows’ nutrition and future breeding success.

“It may sound like a lot of money, but if we can do a better job feeding cattle, you’re going to make that money back on calves in the long-run,” he says.